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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    4

    Default Caught Shoplifting in Illinois

    i am 19 years old and in chicago, il. my friends from highschool always used to shoplift and i'd be with them when they did it. i decided one day that i was finally going to do it because it seemed so easy. so i went into a clothing store and decided to try to take two things [which together was under $150.] i put it in my cvs bag and as soon as i left the dressing room, i completely felt guilty and didn't want to do it anymore. i left it in my bag and still continued to shop - which i ended up actually purchasing $65 worth of things - then i completely walked out, forgetting about what was in my bag - the police came and they asked the manager what they wanted to do - i thought that it could have been settled there but then a girl claimed that "tea lights" were missing and accused me of it! they arrested me, and thats when i broke down - i had told the truth about the two things i took but had no idea what they were talking about with the tea lights - i was put in jail, and had a $100 bond. i'm so scared that i'm going to jail and that this is going to be with me for the rest of my life. my court date is on november 1 - please someone help me and tell me what is going to happen. i have a clean record, i'm a good student, i'm a good person - i'm just an idiot who thought i could try this out when really, i was committing a crime. and on top of that, i'm a typical poor college student - do i need a lawyer? am i going to get a harsher punishment if i just have a public defender? what are the fines? can i get an expungement? please someone give me advice i cant stop crying and worrying - please help me.

  2. #2

    Default Re: Caught Shoplifting in Illinois

    Hello... I'm going through the same thing... Although I've had a week to think about it since the time that it happenned.

    People here have recommended strongly getting a lawyer.

    As for the money issues, I'm not sure if a public defender is better than a private lawyer. I've heard people argue that PD have to see a lot of cases in a day and might not devote time to yours, but then I just got linked this article that suggests that a PD would be just as good as a private lawyer anyway because they see a lot of cases in a day.

    What might help is if you keep checking this forum and search around for other threads from Chicago.

    Also, call the court and see if they have something like a diversion program available at the one you've been assigned to. You might be able to get a plea bargain (?) and be eligible for this, in which you complete a course and not get a conviction (which would show up on your criminal record)

    If you've had friends who've been in trouble before, now would be the time to ask them about where to get a lawyer... Otherwise if you need to keep it hush, you'll have to go it alone trying to find one...

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    4

    Default Re: Caught Shoplifting in Illinois

    Hey thanks so much for replying - so do i plead not guilty in order to get a diversion program? i looked it up [i'm in cook county] and it looks like there isn't any program - i know that as long as i don't get convicted i'll be ok - but i dont even know what that means, will i have to plead not guilty in order to not get convicted? ugh i'm so scared...

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    36

    Default Re: Caught Shoplifting in Illinois

    I'm sure you have been charged wtih misdemeanor retail theft, as you mentioned the dollar amount was less than $150. At court, the prosecutor will most likely give you an offer to plead guilty. This more than likely will be 6 months of court ordered supervision, a fine (probably $75 or $100), court costs ($25 or $50) and restitution if the merchandise is not resaleable (this is separate from civil demand). If you do not get in trouble within the supervision period it will not be on your record. You will have no conviction, nothing. You will not have to report it to an employer and it will now show up on a background check. Cook county does not have a diversion program for adult offenders as far as I know. The biggest thing will be to stay out of trouble during your supervision. If you violate the supervision it will show up as a conviction. This means don't get arrested again for anything. Do you know if you were charged with a local violation or is it a state charge? You can look at your paperwork and tell, if it says State of IL v (your name) it's state, City of Chicago v. (your name) it's local. If it is local, you probably don't need an attorney, your hearing will be like traffic court. If it's state you will need a lawyer. All of this applies if you have a clean record, if not it could be handled differently. Any more questions let me know.

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